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  • Family Fact of the Week: Parents’ Greatest Present Is Their Presence

    As Christmas approaches, malls and big-box stores are packed with parents seeking that special gift that will bring a smile to their children’s faces. Yet the greatest gift they can give will not be found in a store, though it does require substantial investment. The best present that parents can … More

    Family Fact of the Week: Do Religious People Volunteer More?

    Amidst the bustle of shopping for gifts, baking cookies, and wrapping presents, many Americans will celebrate this holiday season at places of worship, expressing their thanks for the blessings of another year. The religious practice and belief of Americans at the holidays and year-round signal good news for civil society … More

    Thanksgiving–and Giving

    Churches will be aglow on Thanksgiving as families gather to express their gratitude for the blessings they’ve experienced. Their continuing presence in the pews would bode well for our nation as well, given that decades of sociological studies have documented the relationship between church attendance and charitable giving, volunteerism, and … More

    Reinventing the Family: Good Intentions Are Not Enough

    As marriage rates plummet and the percentage of intact families sharply declines, experiments that challenge the fundamental nature of the family are adding to the chaos that threatens civil society. A new report released this month by the Institute for American Values and the Commission on Parenthood’s Future explores the … More

    Teen Sexual Behavior: Promoting Wise Choices

    Statistics released today about American teens’ sexual behavior belie the popular portrayal of American youth as permissive and careless. New data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that the majority of teens have remained abstinent. Though the proportion of teens who are sexually experienced has remained relatively unchanged … More

    Cohabitation Compounds Divorce as a Threat to America’s Children

    Given the overwhelming evidence that parental divorce takes a heavy toll on children—in areas ranging from emotional well-being and academic achievement to delinquency, substance abuse, and sexual activity—the nation had cause to breathe a collective sigh of relief when data showed that the incidence of divorce has dropped steadily since … More

    An Effective Approach to Poverty: Circle of Protection or Triangle of Uplift?

    Among the most valuable outcomes of the ongoing debate regarding the debt ceiling crisis and the critical need to rein in government spending has been a sharper focus on priorities in determining prospective cuts in government spending. A coalition of faith leaders from a broad spectrum of denominations has declared … More

    A Generation of Divorce Testifies to the Importance of Marriage

    In a snapshot summary of her memoir released on Tuesday, In Spite of Everything, Susan Gregory Thomas gives a firsthand account of what remains of children and parents after the devastation of divorce. Thomas presents a vivid portrait of the children of divorce in her neighborhood who, with her, wandered … More

    The Costs of the New Sexual Economy

    As more Americans delay or forego the benefits of marriage, one social scientist is suggesting that young adults’ reluctance to tie the knot may stem from faulty market mechanisms in the “sexual economy.” At a recent presentation at The Heritage Foundation, Mark Regnerus discussed the concept of sexual economics and … More

    Fathers Matter: Dads Are Not Optional to Child Well-Being

    Recent social commentary has heralded men’s supposedly diminished role in American society and families. One piece went so far as to proclaim the “end of men.” But as Mark Twain might say, reports of the death of men have been greatly exaggerated. As Father’s Day 2011 approaches, it’s a good … More